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“The single Maggie May is a freak. A million-to-one chance,” Stewart told reporters in 1971. “I still can’t see how the single is such a big hit cos [sic] it’s got no melody! Plenty of character and nice chords, yeah, but no melody.” Back in October 1971, Stewart had no idea how his song made it to the top of the U.S. music charts.
Photo of FACES and Rod STEWART, with The Faces, performing live onstage, looking to camera. Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns
Stewart had a tough competition that year, with artists like John Lennon and George Harrison in the midst of launching their solo careers. A friend had even told him to leave Maggie May off the album because “it’s not commercial.” But luckily for Stewart, the single, along with the rest of his Every Picture Tells a Story album, elevated his status: He became rock n’ roll elite.